Biology:Thomasia dielsii

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Short description: Species of shrub

Thomasia dielsii
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Thomasia
Species:
T. dielsii
Binomial name
Thomasia dielsii
E.Pritz.[1]

Thomasia dielsii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, erect to spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves with wavy edges, and purple, violet and blue flowers.

Description

Thomasia dielsii is an erect to spreading shrub that typically grows to 0.2–0.4 m (7.9 in–1 ft 3.7 in) high, 0.8–1 m (2 ft 7 in–3 ft 3 in) wide and has its young stems covered in greyish, star-shaped. The leaves are egg-shaped to oblong, 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) wide on a petiole 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The edges of the leaves are wavy and slightly serrated, the upper surface with a few star-shaped hairs, the lower surface more densely hairy. There are hairy, smaller leaf-like stipules at the base of the petioles. The flowers are arranged in racemes of 4 to 9, each flower on a hairy pedicel 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long, with hairy, linear bracteoles about 6 mm (0.24 in) long at the base. The sepals are purple, violet and blue, 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long, and there are no petals, the style protruding above the stamens.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Thomasia dielsii was first formally described in 1904 by Ernst Georg Pritzel in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie from specimens he collected near Cranbrook.[4][5] The specific epithet (dielsii) honours Ludwig Diels.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This thomasia grows on flats from near Cranbrook to Israelite Bay in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][3]

Conservation status

Thomasia dielsii is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[6]

References

  1. "Thomasia dielsii". Australian Plant Census. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/65258. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 18–19. ISBN 9780646839301. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Thomasia dielsii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5078. 
  4. "Thomasia dielsii". Australian Plant Name Index. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/472301. 
  5. Pritzel, Ernst G. (1904). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse.". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 35 (2–3). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/126847#page/405/mode/1up. Retrieved 3 January 2023. 
  6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna". Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/Listings/Conservation%20code%20definitions.pdf. Retrieved 3 January 2023. 

Wikidata ☰ Q17580971 entry